Your favorite K-drama stars - Did you know they are best friends IRL?2016/11/09,
To talk about South Korea's celebrity best friends irl (in real life), we can't forget the famous Song Joong-ki and Lee Gwang-soo duo! Their friendship started as they appeared together in a variety show called Running Man. These same age actors, brand new to the entertainment business, quickly grew very close to each other. Soon, they even acted together in a drama "Nice Guy" as best friends in the show. Since then, their friendship passed the stage of just "best friends", they are more like brothers at this point,...More

[Orion's Drama News] "Man to Man"2016/10/08,
Between ruthless weather and award ceremonies, Korea and Korean entertainment have been rather busy this past week. On the other hand, my news offerings for you today are humble, which is a nicer way of saying we are a little low on the news. This is not true if you are eager to see "Man to Man", however, because said men seem impervious to slow news,...More

G-Dragon Draws Chinese Crowds to Clothing Store2016/09/07, Source,
Chinese fans of G-Dragon line up outside an 8 Seconds store in Myeong-dong, Seoul in August.
The flagship store of clothing brand 8 Seconds in Seoul's shopping district of Myeong-dong was teeming with Chinese tourists on Monday who had come all the way to buy hats and T-shirts branded boy band rapper G-Dragon,...More

Korean Star Cancels Fan Meet in China Amid THAAD Spat2016/08/19, Source,
A fan meet with actress Park Shin-hye scheduled on Sept. 10 in Shanghai has been canceled amid fears of anti-Korean sentiment amid an escalating spat over the stationing in Korea of a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery.
Beijing believes the battery is intended to keep its military might in check, and there is talk in China that the Korean Wave has turned into a "Korean Chill",...More

Tourist Numbers Soar2016/07/17, Source,
Gimpo International Airport is packed with travelers on Monday. /Newsis
More than 8 million tourists visited Korea in the first half of this year as the stigma of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak wore off and Chinese package tours returned to industrial scale. The Korea Tourism Organization on Tuesday said the number of foreign tourists in the first six months of this year rose 21 percent compared to the same period last year to 8.1 million,...More

Song Joong-ki in first place for 5 months in a row2016/06/27, Source,
Song Joog-ki is in the lead for brand reputation for 5 months in a row.
According to brand reputation for advertisement models, Song Joong-ki came in 1st, Park Shin-hye 2nd and Taeyeon 3rd.
The Korean Business and Reputation Research Institute measured consumers' brand participation and communication by analyzing 41,004,104 big data of 20 advertisement models from the 24th of May 2016 to 25th of June 2016,...More

Best Hidden Parks for Picnics in Seoul2016/06/12, Source,
There are many great places in Seoul for a picnic including the Han River, Olympic Park and Seoul Forest, but some are still not known to many. Here are a few to check out this summer,...More

How the industry looks at Song Joong-ki2016/06/09, Source,
News about Song Joong-ki transferring agencies is finally out. Rumors that have been going around have finally come out as news. Song Joong-ki's sources of course, are denying it.
A media reported that Song Joong-ki is sounding out to a Chinese agency's offer for 20 billion won. Current agency Blossom Entertainment is determined to leave, although they're careful about it because of legal matters,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Phantom Detective"2016/05/21,
Director Jo Sung-hee's "Phantom Detective" is a play on the crime noir complete with anti-hero Hong Gil-dong (Lee Je-hoon), a decrepit town, deranged villains, and stylized filming that brings the world of the comic book to life. There are also two unlikely sidekicks, two little girls who rework Gil-dong's damaged psyche over the course of the film. "Phantom Detective" was released in Korea May 4, 2016 and 508,000 filmgoers (19.9%) sat down to watch a modern take of the classic Korean tale of "Hong Gil Dong,...More

Three issues about Song Hye-kyo's image rights2016/04/28, Source,
The battle between Song Hye-kyo and the jewelry brand J. Estina is intense. Song Hye-kyo sued J. Estina for using her image without notice in March and both sides are radical. The core of this situation is image rights.
As the issue got heated up, J. Estina claimed that it understands how Hallyu contents influences national finance and that it respects the actress and her company. However, that doesn't mean the issue has died down. Sports Dong A took a look at three issues related to this case,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Special 22016/04/21,
For those of you hoping for more recaps of the second OTP pairing between Myeong-joo and Dae-yeong, this second special did throw in a few of their juiciest bits. However, it mostly focused on Si-jin and Mo-yeon and on the trials that Si-jin suffered for his country and his woman,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun"2016/04/16,
The Korean drama industry is constantly looking for hits, like any business does. As pre-produced shows have not done well in the past, creating something like "Descendants of the Sun" was a risk. In this case, the risk paid off in a major way. The series is a big global hit. As a reviewer, however, my job is not to gush over success. The drama has its virtues, but it is definitely not on the meatier side of entertainment. So here is my own take on it,...More

'Descendants of the Sun' Ends on a Massive High2016/04/15, Source,
Election fever made no dent in the ratings of KBS hit soap "Descendants of the Sun" on Wednesday, whose penultimate episode easily outclassed election coverage on all three terrestrial channels with 34.8 percent to 23.2. The soap mesmerized Korea and China for the last three months and came to an end on Thursday. And while the figures speak for themselves, there are some gripes, chiefly about the incoherent plot. So when all is said and done, what are viewers taking away from the series?,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 16 (final)2016/04/14,
"Descendants of the Sun" has come to an end and that fact feels a bit surreal as well as its rating of 38.8%. Not just as a viewer, but as a reviewer. Not just as a reviewer, but as an international drama fan watching the waves that this drama has made in the world of drama, and in the world itself. This drama is more than its story. It is enveloped in a hype that is currently unparalleled. In some ways, the show is well-worth its worldwide prestige. In others, it is not. Let's break down this final review into parts,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 152016/04/13,
In its penultimate episode, "Descendants of the Sun" tops itself with 34.8% ratings in spite of the fact that it was competing with South Korean elections. This drama suffers from too many tonal shifts, but the tone of this episode was so solid that it was a tight, emotive watching experience even though it didn't quite match the rest of the drama. Let's just get the not-so-great stuff out of the way so we can then focus on all the awesome things this episode got right,...More

The Flawless Song Joong-ki2016/04/13, Source,
He is flawless.
Every Korean woman is crazy about Song Joong-ki. It's not just about popularity and 'aching' for him, every single thing about him is an issue. Fans naturally trace back to where he came from and you're in for a surprise,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 142016/04/07,
For the second time in its fourteen-episode run "Descendants of the Sun" has experienced a ratings drop. It came in at 33.0%, 0.5% decrease. Perhaps it is the fact that the glamour and excitement of the foreign country was no longer present. Perhaps it was the broaching of the sensitive North/South Korea conflict that is more tense than ever. Perhaps it was just the simple fact that the cliffhanger wasn't really a cliffhanger despite the fact that the show only has a week left (save for the bonus goodies to be offered after its run.) The strongest part of the episode was the relationships, namely the friendships,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 132016/04/06,
Our crew of loveable characters has landed back in Korea and served us up another ratings hike. Episode 13 earned at 33.5% on the Nielsen Korea chart and the sheer number of adorable couple moments and character beats support it. Yoo Ah-in's sardonic cameo also probably helped. Then there was the witty, zippy, and fun dialogue along with the more relaxed feeling that comes with a much needed homecoming. I just have to get this out of the way, however,...More

"Descendants of the Sun", the Song-Ha couple2016/04/03, Source,
The KBS 2TV drama is all about the Song-Song and Koo-Won couple but thy aren't the only ones romancing it up in the drama. There is also the Song-Ha couple (Song Doctor and Ha Nurse).
The two are the hidden works of art in the drama. They brought about a lighter atmosphere in "Descendants of the Sun" when the earthquake hit and Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and his team were in peril,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 122016/03/31,
"Descendants of the Sun" is a master at sparking emotion. No matter how illogical the plot may become, the emotional barometer is insanely high. This must be why Nielsen Korean is clocking this drama at 33% for episode 12, a whole 1.1% higher than last night's episode. Wow. It is the human element that "Descendants of the Sun" is really learning to master that makes is so addictive - for me and the rest of the world. Before I go any further I have to say, "Oh my gosh, the feels!",...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 112016/03/30,
"Descendants of the Sun" tries to pack in a lot of action by having our heroes face weapons trafficking, plagues, gun standoffs, earthquakes, kidnapping, and politics. No matter what happens, this show seems destined to best itself - and it did. It came 0.3% higher than the last episode at 31.9%. More than anything, however, it was the acting in this episode by our leads that made it worthy of that rating. Jin Goo proved his mettle as his expressed Dae-yeong's worry for Myeong-joo with previously unparalleled intensity,...More

'Descendants of the Sun' actor Jin Goo to pay a visit to women's college2016/03/30, Source,
According to multiple sources in the entertainment business on March 30th, Jin Goo will visit Dongduk Women's University at 6 PM on March 31st to join the students at an event prepared by the university.
The event is only for the students of Dongduk Women's University and the students who want to attend the event are required to register beforehand. Dongduk Women's University will check the student ID and other identification cards to allow only those students who were selected through a pre event to enter the venue,...More

Yoo Si-jin is real, Song Joong-ki synchronizes 100%2016/03/29, Source,
Is there anyone else who can pull off the soldier role well? Song Joong-ki is currently acting out the role of a special forces mercenary named Yoo Si-jin. He is doing a good job of mesmerizing women with his charisma and soft smile.
Song Joong-ki joined the military on August 27, 2013 and spent 21 months on base. He was hard-working and made a good example of a soldier during his time there,...More

Lee Honey, "The most wanted"2016/03/28, Source,
Beauty actress and former Miss Korea Lee Honey became The Most Wanted.
Men's Health conducted a survey on The Most Wanted Guy and Girl for its 11th Cool Guy Contest. A total of 309 Men's health users and supporters participated in the survey. Lee Honey received 26.5% votes and became the most wanted woman,...More

Golden sayings about life: Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo's romance2016/03/27, Source,
There is a list of golden sayings referring to life.
Mother Teresa once said, "It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start",...More

[Raine's Drama Insights] Why "Descendants of the Sun" is a Cultural Phenomenon 2016/03/26,
"Descendants of the Sun" is a K-drama that has touched every corner of the Korean drama scene. That scene can be found all over the globe. Its presence in Asia is unprecedented while Viki's internet streaming and quick subbing has brought the drama to English-speaking audiences. The power that drives the drama is multi-faceted ranging from the money behind it, to the promotion, to the star power, to intense fan viewership and participation,...More

[HanCinema's Digest] Travel Bug Bites2016/03/26,
See Seoul's hottest attractions with new K-bus tours, Korean dramas help boost tourism at home and away, read Soo Kim's travel retrospective about Seoul, and hit Korea's highways and byways with a road trip around the country,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 102016/03/24,
With the romance firmly cemented by episode 9's romantic antics and kisses, episode 10 introduces some major plot points to yank the drama back into action. Not that its ratings need more action - they're consistently on the rise. This episode clocked in at 31.6%, 1.2% higher than last night's episode. "Descendants of the Sun" is battling itself episode to episode for best ratings. Fancy choreography, intricate camerawork and a viral disease are in another tussle; one for the most exciting moment of the episode. It doesn't lose the romantic flavors of last episode, but the hot points are definitely the action,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 92016/03/23,
If there is one thing that can almost always bolster ratings it is a good kiss...or two! Hello 30% ratings - 30.4% to be exact. The Song-Song couple not only shared two very romantic kissing scenes (and a good roll in the hay,) but the episode was bolstered by the high-intensity romantic moments between Song-Song and Myeong-joo and Dae-yeong. There were a few small moments, those beautiful moments that showcased themselves during the thick of the earthquake, that colored this romantic episode for the better,...More

[Orion's Drama News] "Oppas" Are Bad for You2016/03/19,
Another week, another selection of drama news. We had all sorts of things happening these past few days, from the regular to the outrageous. The time is approaching for upcoming dramas, some star-studded new ones have begun their run and Song Joong-ki is here to steal you from your lovers and possibly ruin your life and health. Ok, maybe not,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 82016/03/17,
If the last episode of "Descendants of the Sun" was about the small moments, this one was about the small windows of time that allows our characters and those around them to see the world more clearly. The world is also seeing this drama quite clearly as it shot up 0.5% to 28.8%, mere percentage points away from the big three-oh. Si-jin and Mo-yeon are developing nicely although Mo-yeon's fear of losing him to his job still tends to dominate her emotions and behavior,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 72016/03/16,
"Descendants of the Sun" rode atop romance and angsty separations for its first six episodes, but this episode saw a sudden turn. It began to look inward, to inspect the minutiae of humanity and the beauty found in the smallest of human connections. Perhaps the lack of intense romantic interaction is what kept the show from pushing into the 30s, but it came in at a hugely respectable 28.3%, just 0.2% less than last episode. The little moments built this episode from the ground up,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 62016/03/10,
This is seriously baffling. "Descendants of the Sun" episode 6 blasted ratings precedents with 28.5%. The drama is most definitely not about action and is all about the romance, the Song Joong-ki stare, and the manufactured drama. I admit to welcoming the earthquake and the chaos it fosters because it pulls the drama out of its extremely romance heavy focus. What detracts from the high-budget beauty of the episode is the circular happenings between both couples,...More

[HanCinema's Drama First Look] "Descendants of the Sun"2016/03/05,
The long awaited, fully pre-produced "Descendants of the Sun" is here and boy, has it made an entrance. With domestic and foreign ratings, sales and buzz soaring high, the drama is undoubtedly a huge success. At the same time, it is really not a story with something for everyone and has its share of issues which range from tolerable to frustrating. For those who like the type, however, this is one fun ride,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 32016/03/02,
After a long week of waiting, "Descendants of the Sun" has graced us with another episode that came in at an unheard of 23.4%. Again, I can't iterate enough how slick and gorgeous it is or how fantastic the actors are in their roles. Song Joong-ki, despite his pretty face, is 100% masculine and in charge of his character while Song Hye-gyo owns the drastic change in hers. Not to mention that we finally get to see the beauty of Greece that plays the role of the country Uruk where the drama takes place. Please be sure to stick around for some home grown insight about Greece from Orion, HanCinema's own Greek goddess.,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 22016/02/25,
If episode one of "Descendants of the Sun" was about introductions, episode two, coming in on top at 15.5%, fleshed them out and added the rest of the teams that support Si-jin and Mo-yeon. Romance was the priority, but it didn't feel like the show was beating us over the head with it. Instead, the romance that blossomed hit very real walls that were acknowledged by two adults who hold themselves to different belief systems and lifestyles. We all know that will change. The adventure is watching them learn what we already know,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Review] "Descendants of the Sun" Episode 12016/02/24,
It's finally here, folks! KBS's first pre-produced, star-studded drama "Descendants of the Sun". The drama dominated the charts at whopping 14.3%. It's Song Joong-ki's first drama after his mandatory military service, which is all too fitting. He as Soldier Yoo Si-jin is joined by Song Hye-kyo as war doctor Kang Mo-yeon, Jin Goo as Soldier Seo Dae-yeong, and as war doctor Yoon Myeong-joo, Kim Ji-won-I. From the trailers we knew that romance is the thread that will weave through the story, but war and it's trials and horrors will drive the plot as it brings people together and tears them apart. We've been teased for months, and now, without further ado, I bring to you my review of episode 1,...More

How Chinese Money Is Changing Korean Media2016/02/21, Source,
An influx of Chinese money is having a huge influence on the Korean media industry. One recent symptom was the case of Taiwanese-born teenage starlet Tzuyu, whose waving of her country's flag in an old clip sparked a Twitterstorm that sent her agency JYP into a blind panic.
Terrified of jeopardizing the Chinese market, JYP forced the girl to apologize on bended knee and declare her allegiance to the Motherland -- only to find that barely anyone in China had noticed.
Still, China's media contents market is growing 11 percent annually and is expected to surpass Japan's this year, which puts JYP's anxieties into perspective (US$1=W1,211).
According to the Small and Medium Business Administration, more than W1 trillion worth (~US$1 billion) of Chinese money had been invested in Korean computer games and entertainment programs as of September last year. Last week, China's top online retailer Alibaba announced it is investing W35.5 billion in another Korean talent mill, SM Entertainment, and with money comes clout,...More

[HanCinema's Drama Preview] "Descendants of the Sun"2016/02/20,
Hold on to your hats and other detachable wearables, because "Descendants of the Sun" is coming, almost a year after it first got viewers excited over its existence. The drama is a fully pre-produced work partially filmed in Greece and features a powerhouse hallyu-fueled cast and crew. Expectations are high and emotions even higher. Are you all ready for the big reveal,...More

[USA and Canada] DramaFever Launches New CJ E&M Movie Channel2016/01/25, Source,
New Feature for DramaFever Premium Subscribers Brings Best Korean Films, On Demand, to Fans in the U.S. and Canada
DramaFever (dramafever.com), the leading online destination for international television shows, movies and concerts, and the leading Asian pop culture producer and distributor CJ E&M have announced the launch of DramaFever's "CJ E&M Movie Channel". Created as part of a previously-announced, multi-year licensing deal between the two companies, the CJ E&M Movie Channel will debut today, with two dozen films immediately available on demand to premium subscribers of DramaFever's OTT digital video network. Fans can access the channel at dramafever.com/movies, and for the first three days,...More

[HanCinema's Report] "Descendants of the Sun" filming in Greece2015/10/17,
Upcoming series 'Descendants of the Sun' has been filming in locations all over Greece since late September. The drama starring popular actors Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo is about a UN peacekeeping troops captain and a volunteer for Doctors Without Borders falling in love while in a war-stricken country. Due to this premise, 80% of the pre-produced series is filmed outside of Korea. While the production has been mostly secretive in order to maintain audience suspense, some Greek news portals and blogs have followed the filming and acquired information. After contacting them, they have graciously shared their coverage with HanCinema. Filming has mainly taken place in Zakynthos, Arachova and Lemnos,...More

Actors with 'honey vocal cord' in their 20s/30s2015/09/14, Source,
'Honey vocal cord' as in sweet voice is an important charming appeal for actors to have.
Attractive voice highlights emotions in acting by delivering them more vividly and makes audience focus more on his acting. The young actors in his 20s and 30s with the sweet voice as well as the charming look are 'perfect guys',...More

Actors' salary this year2015/09/03, Source,
Curiosity rose for actors' pay after actresses' pay was released last month. We've updated the ranks from highest paid actors to the lowest.
According to studies, the gap between actors and actresses isn't that large. In case of the actors, they are more highly paid as they have a strong fan base all over the world. The prices of actors continuously rise but the actresses fill in the gaps with fashion and beauty advertisements. After actors make it big with dramas, they make more money off extracurricular events such as foreign fan meetings and such so they make extra profits,...More

Advertisement battle: Lee Min-ho vs. Kim Soo-hyeon-I2015/03/22, Source, The two of them have recently been chosen as the new faces of each others' advertisements. This is an interesting piece of information as there seems to be an invisible battle of ego.
Kim Soo-hyeon-I was attacked first. He was the global model for bag brand Samsonite Red but wasn't able to re-sign at the end of December last year. Samsonite wanted Lee Min-ho instead,...More

Korean drama of the week "OB and GY"2014/11/06, Source,
Korean drama of the week "OB and GY" (2010) Directed by Choi Yeong-hoon, Lee Hyeon-jik Written by Choi Hee-ra Network : SBS With Jang Seo-hee, Ko Joo-won, Seo Ji-seok, Jeong Ho-bin, Song Joong-ki, Lee Young-eun,... 16 episodes - Wed, Thu 22:00 Synopsis Seo Hye-yeong is a talented second-year obstetrician, but when a patient desperate to abort her second child begs her to perform the surgery, she reluctantly agrees. She's promptly blacklisted and transferred from a prestigious hospital in Seoul to an obscure country hospital. To make things worse, she realizes that she herself is pregnant-and the father is a married man. Rebuilding her life in the wake of these events, Hye-yeong struggles to keep her pregnancy secret from her co-workers. She clashes with Lee Sang-sik, a pediatrician at the new hospital, while an old friend, Wang Jae Sook, re-enters her life. Award-winning actress Jang Seo-hee ("Temptation of a Wife") stars alongside Ko Joo-won ("Kim Soo Ro") and Seo Ji-seok. Rising young actor Song Joong-ki ("Sungkyunkwan Scandal") adds even more talent to this story that tracks the medical and human dramas in a hospital's obstetrics department.,...More

[HanCinema's Actor Spotlight] Song Joong-ki2014/07/26, Song Joong-ki is one of the rawest talents to ever grace the small and big screens of South Korea. Every emotion he portrays on screen is rooted in his gut: strong, visceral, real. His good looks may have won him entrance onto the competitive K-drama and K-film playing field, but his skills have kept him on top. What makes Song stand out as an actor is his keen intelligence and his deep understanding of his roles,...More

TV dramas use similar names for main characters2013/09/12, Source,
Jang Tae-san, Jang Tae-joo, Jang Tae-ha
They sound like names for brothers, but they are characters appearing in different TV dramas in Korea. Jang Tae-san (played by Lee Joon-ki) is the main character in MBC TVs Wednesday and Thursday drama series "Two Weeks". He is a fugitive who is mistakenly charged for murder, and struggles to save his daughter. Jang Tae-joo (played by Ko Soo) is the main character in SBS TVs Monday and Tuesday drama series "Empire of Gold", and is an ambitious man who seeks a hostile takeover of a chaebol enterprise to take revenge for his father who died due to false allegations.
Jang Tae-ha (played by Park Sang-min) is a character of hard-headed conglomerate owner on MBC TVs weekend drama series Scandal. They come to have similar names because all of them are serious and strong characters, and the screenplay writers sought to pick names suitable for such characters,...More

Song Joong-ki leaves for the army today2013/08/26, Source,
Actor Song Joong-ki is on his way to do his duties for the nation.
Song will be admitted to military camp at 1PM this afternoon and receive 4 weeks of basic military training before serving duty. He's going to make a short appearance for the press, in front of the camp entrance and then proceed within,...More

Korean movie of the week "A Werewolf Boy" + DVD Giveaway [US Only]2013/08/22, Source,
Korean movie of the week "A Werewolf Boy" (2012) + DVD Giveaway [US Only] Directed by Jo Sung-hee With Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-yeong, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jang Young-nam, Kim Hyang-ki, Lee Yeong-ran,... Synopsis Summoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits a cottage the way she used to when she was a young girl. She remembers a boy she knew half a century before. Moving to a peaceful village when she was a girl she discovered a "wolf boy", hiding his large, contorted body in the darkness. The girl, now a woman, has never been able to purge the images of his wild eyes and animal-like behavior from her mind. She recalls teaching the boy how to wait patiently before a meal, how to wear clothes, how to speak, how to write and other human behaviors so that he could one day live like a normal man,...More

CJ Entertainment Proudly Presents "A Werewolf Boy"2013/07/23,
Some Instincts Can Never Be Tamed ... Is It Possible He Continues to Wait for Her? Romantic Fantasy Comes to Life on DVD Aug. 13th Sometimes love can wait a lifetime in the romantic fantasy "A Werewolf Boy", captivating DVD Aug. 13 from CJ Entertainment America. An unexpected phone call summons an elderly woman, who has lost interest in life, back to Korea and the remote cottage in the countryside where she spent a tumultuous time in her youth. Memories overwhelm Suni (Park Bo-yeong) of a feral and mute orphan (Song Joong-ki) who the family took in ... only to discover that he was a creature never meant to exist,...More

'Secretly and Greatly' Blazes Trail at Box Office by Tapping Teen Audience2013/06/10, Source,
Director Jang Cheol-soo's "Secretly and Greatly" hit the 3-million mark in terms of cinema attendance on Sunday, just five days after it was released. The hit movie attracted 1 million moviegoers in 36 hours and 2 million in 72 hours as it continues to set a series of new records in the history of Korean cinema. It attracted a record number of daily spectators (919,000) on Thursday, saw the most tickets booked before its release, and reached the 1-million mark faster than any other Korean film to date. The film is a light-hearted comedy revolving around three North Korean agents who disguise themselves, respectively, as a village idiot, a rock star and a high school student while they await their orders from Pyongyang. When their mission turns out to be an order to commit suicide, due to a sudden power shift in the North, none are best pleased,...More

[UK] 5th Terracotta Festival 2013 Full Line-up Announcement2013/05/08, Source,
Tickets are now on sale for the fifth edition of the annual Terracotta Far East Film Festival. Over the years the festival has seen the event go from strength to strength. This year is set to be the biggest yet, expanding to 27 films spread over 4 sections and 2 venues from 06 - 15 June 2013. The core of the festival will remain a hand-picked selection of the best CURRENT ASIAN CINEMA at The Prince Charles Cinema. This all UK Premieresectionreflects the vibrancy and energy in Asian filmmaking today. Ranging from realist dramas to romance, light comedies to spy action thrillers, swordfighting epics to gothic fairytales, the festival aims to balance the representation of Asian countries.
Terracotta Festival 2013 (TFEFF13) will open with Hong Kong action COLD WAR on Thursday 06 June 2013,...More

G-Dragon Voted Best-Dressed Celebrity of the Year2012/12/25, Source,
Pop star G-Dragon was the best-dressed celebrity of 2012. The Chosun Ilbo asked 25 fashion designers and stylists who they felt were the leading trendsetters of the year. The top 15 advanced to the second round of voting, where the top 10 were decided. G-Dragon of K-pop group Big Bang came first with 10 votes. He established himself as a fashionista early in his career with a wide range of styles from street fashion to luxury and is said to be capable of making any piece of clothing his own,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "A Werewolf Boy"2012/11/30,
Until I actually saw "A Werewolf Boy" by Jo Sung-hee on screen, it wasn't at all clear to me whether this was a movie about a werewolf or just a feral teenager (in Korean, the title is simply "Wolf Boy"). Granted, usually a movie studio only thinks it can make money if it has a cool concept like a werewolf (feral children just aren't as flashy), and yet looking into the movie's press poster, all I can see are the blank eyes of a boy who has no concept of civilized life. They're the eyes of an animal,...More

CJ Entertainment to release exclusive alternate ending for 'A Werewolf Boy'2012/11/28, Source, Exclusive clip added to film will make hearts race even faster!
Fantasy romance becomes 3rd highest box office film of 2012 in South Korea
Director Jo Sung-hee reveals during an audience Q&A session that he shot an alternate ending for the film
"A Werewolf Boy" at #1 in box office for 5 consecutive weeks
Coming to North America on November 30!
See below for a full list of theaters
""A Werewolf Boy" is continually fascinating" – Maggie Lee, Variety
"It will fulfill and dazzle you to the very end" – Anderson Le, HIFF
South Korean box office champion "A Werewolf Boy" has truly captured the hearts of females young and old, surpassing 6 million in admissions within 26 days of release and becoming the film with the 3rd highest box office in 2012. With its captivating storyline and lead actor Song Joong-ki bringing audiences to the theater for second and third doses of the movie, the film's distributor, CJ Entertainment, announced that they would be releasing an exclusive alternate ending version of "A Werewolf Boy" in December 2012,...More

2012 MAMA To Feature B.o.B. & Adam Lambert2012/11/21, Source,
Both recognized internationally, pop singer Adam Lambert and hip hop singer-songwriter-producer B.o.B. will both be attending the 2012 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). According to the Director of MAMA Han Dong-cheol, the entire world will be able to enjoy performances by these two acts at the awards ceremony which will be taking place on November 30th at the Hong Kong Convention And Exhibition Center (HKCEC),...More

Werewolf craze hits South Korea - and it's not for Twilight.2012/11/14, Source,
"A Werewolf Boy" surpasses 4 million in admissions and still tops the box office Fantasy romance film holds #1 in advance sales even with the upcoming release of Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Coming soon to North American theaters! Full list of theaters below. ""A Werewolf Boy" is continually fascinating" – Maggie Lee, Variety "It will fulfill and dazzle you to the very end" – Anderson Le, HIFF Despite the upcoming international release of billion dollar franchise and supernatural counterpart Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, CJ Entertainment's latest film "A Werewolf Boy" shows little sign of slowing down in the box office. The enchanting fantasy romance still remains at #1 in the box office and #1 in advance sales, with 28.91% of all advances sales in the box office,...More

Art and Culture2012/10/15, Source,
It's the start of a new week and our Michelle Kim has brought us a new round of arts and culture events. Today I hear she has a few movies she'd like to introduce to us. Hello Michelle [Reporter : ] Hello Han-ul So what movies do you have for us today[Reporter : ] This fall, three Korean men -- So Ji-sub, Ryu Seung-beom and Song Joong-ki -- will be heating up the big screen in three new films that take them in new directions or build on their existing images. I have previews of all three movies for you today. Take a look. Actor So Ji-sub, best known for the dectective drama "Ghost - Drama" is back on the big screen with the action thriller "A Company Man", which is in theaters now,...More

Putting warm, fuzzy spin on Mother Nature2012/08/07, Source,
A scene from "Emperor Penguins Peng-yi and Som-yi", a re-interpretation of MBC's eponymous documentary series by directors Kim Jin-man-I and Kim Jae-yeong, shows adult emperor penguins and chicks gathered to withstand the South Pole chill. The film opens today in selected theaters. / Courtesy of All That Cinema
By Kwaak Je-yup Slavoj Zizek, one of today's most popular thinkers and known for his cynical wit, urged caution in a recent lecture in Seoul against the belief that nature is guided by a mysterious benevolent force. "If nature is a mother, she's a bitch of a mother", he said, citing inexplicable natural disasters as evidence,...More

K-Entertainment2012/05/09, Source,
Hello, everyone. I'm Lena filling you in with the latest K-pop news updates. First up, we have K-pop idol sensation Super Junior who have stayed at No. 1 on the Taiwanese music chart for a staggering, record-setting 100 weeks,...More

'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' Wins Bronze Prize at New York TV Festival2012/04/20, Source,
The KBS drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" won the bronze prize at this year's New York TV Festival, which was held in Las Vegas on April 17, in the category of mini-series, KBS revealed on April 18. The production director Kwak Ki Won, who attended the awards ceremony, said, "I hope that Hallyu, which has spread in Asian countries including Japan, will spread all over the world with this opportunity of winning the award",...More

Art and Culture2012/03/14, Source,
It's Wednesday -- right in the middle of the work week -- and our arts and culture reporter Michelle Kim is here to light up the day and give us the latest update on performances and entertainment. Hello Michelle.
[Reporter : Michelle Kim] Hello Conn-young and hello to you all.
So what exciting news do you have for us this afternoon,...More

[HanCinema's Film Review] "Penny Pinchers": Love on a budget2012/02/25, Kim Jeong-hwan-III's "Penny Pinchers" is a rather charming romantic comedy that highlights some of hardships the youth of Korea have to tackle. Two young lives become intertwined as they find each other amidst Korea's highly competitive, and seemingly unforgiving, rat race. It's them against the world, but not before the lies and deceit between them is resolved in a heart-felt journey of self-discovery and compassion,...More

Talented Young Hunks Draw Young Female Fans to TV Dramas2012/02/01, Source,
TV viewers are raving about the pin-up boys in their late teens and early 20s that appear in the MBC TV drama "The Sun and the Moon". Industry insiders believe the young hunks have exactly what it takes to draw young female viewers, and an increasing number of soaps are casting them. Now the handsome young actors are playing a pivotal role in driving up the popularity of these dramas.
Last year's hit KBS TV drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" featured four young hunks in its cast, including boy band member Micky Yoochun and heartthrob Song Joong-ki. The result was soaring ratings for the program that catapulted the young actors to top-star status. The hit SBS drama "Deep-rooted Tree" also cast four young pin-up boys who, together with its catchy storyline, succeeded in hooking young female viewers,...More

Korean romantic comedies crash2011/11/20, Source,
The results of recent Korean romantic comedy movies are not that good.
After the craze for "Arrow, The Ultimate Weapon" and "The Crucible" passed by this summer, there was a spill of romantic comedies, showing the sweet affection between lovers. Despite the fact that October and November is off-season for theaters, these films threw their hat into the ring with the excuse that the cold weather would give a reason for lovers to spend their time watching movies,...More

Song Joong-ki: 'I Want Become Actor Like Leonardo DiCaprio'2011/11/04, Source,
Actor Song Joong-ki, who will play his first role as a protagonist in the movie "Penny Pinchers", gave an interview at a cafe in Samcheongdong on November 3. Asked about his favorite actor, he answered, "I admire the actor Leonardo DiCaprio and want to become an actor like him. He has excellent acting ability and many charms of his own. And he has successfully transformed into a characteristic actor from his previous image of a 'pretty boy'". His answer sounds very natural when considering his own characteristics. It will be his first appearance as a protagonist, but his recognition among audiences is already very high. He has appeared on various programs such as entertainment programs, dramas, and movies, and his appearance looked splendid even though he was not the main character of those programs. It might be because of his beautiful appearance, but his appearance was not his only virtue. He mentioned that he was a very competitive person, and it seemed to be true when looking at his concentration while appearing on any works on TV or on the movie screen,...More

"Flower Boys" color fall2011/11/02, Source,
Actors in their 20s are here!
There was once shortage of actors in Chungmuro. There was worry that there wasn't going to be anyone in the next generation to follow Song Kang-ho, Kim Yoon-seok, Choi Min-sik and other established actors in their 40s. However, nowadays moviemakers are smiling. Young and fresh actors in their 20s are shaking up Chungmuro with their feisty spirit,...More

Cha Seung-won 20's Choice 'Hottest Six Pack'2011/07/07, Source,
Actor Cha Seung-won (41) has been chosen as the best body beating younger actors in their 20's.
The Mnet 20's Choice Awards was held on the 7th at the Walker Hill Hotel outdoor poolside River Park. In the falling rain, many stars made appearances and heated up the atmosphere.,...More

Soo-ae, No. 1 actress to pull off a dramatic change2011/03/31, Source,
Actress Soo-ae was chosen to be the one actress that might go along with a dramatic change.
With the release of movies "Paris, the Days We Loved" and "Emmanuel Vear" in which she dramatically exposes herself, a survey under the title, 'Which Korean actress could pull off a complete change?' was carried out. The first place was given to Soo-ae.,...More

Song Joong-ki: 'I Conducted Thorough Research to Play Yong Ha'2011/03/29, Source, Song Joong-ki answered during interviews with the Japanese press, "When I first received the script, I felt bad because the character that I would play was of little importance. But I put even more effort in studying the character and making a push to increase his presence in the drama".
Actor Song Joong-ki, who has received a great popularity with his appearance in the popular drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" by playing a character named Yeo Rim Koo Yong Ha, participated in an interview with Japanese press on March 27 at the Renaissance Hotel in Yeoksam-dong, and advertised the charms of the drama,...More

Popular 'Running Man' Television Show Brings Back Childhood Memories2011/02/16, Source,
Do you recall playing tag with your friends back in childhood? Do you remember the moments of thrill before shouting "FREEZE!"? Now I think back, 'where' was not the big question, but 'with who' was. 'Running Man' is a show which relates to those childhood memories, and enables the audience to sympathize with the child-like humor generated from watching the show'.Running Man' is the first segment of Weekend entertainment show 'Love Sunday!' The program was first aired on June 27, 2010, replacing ex-popular TV series 'Family Outing 2'. Yoo Jae-seok, much-celebrated host, firmly stands at the center and leads a group of celebrities through various missions and games,...More

Winners of 2011 Asia Model Awards2011/01/23, Source, The 2011 Asia Model Awards were held on January 21st at the Seoul Marriott Hotel. This is one of Asia's biggest modeling events, with models from Korea, China, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Mongolia. All the countries unite under the slogan of "Asian is one" to help advance the Asian modeling industry. Here, some of k-pop's biggest acts were also honored with various awards,...More

[2010 10Asia's Awards] Drama and Director of the Year2010/12/31, Source, Just like the results on year-end awards ceremonies, no choice will be supported by everyone. A drama cannot be considered 'better' just because more people have seen it nor can it be considered 'proper' just because more people like it. The drama, director, writer and actor of the year picked by the reporters and critics of 10Asia are strictly based on personal taste. The value of KBS TV series "The Slave Hunter" will not diminish just because KBS drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" beat it out by one vote to take the title of drama of the year. And the fact that while last year, actress Ko Hyeon-jeong received an overwhelming number of the votes for her role in MBC's "Queen Seon-deok" for best actress, but that this year Jang Hyeok and many other names were mentioned, may be proof that the Korean drama industry depicted on a larger variety of people. But one thing 10Asia can tell you for sure is that our writers have observed and loved Korean dramas during the past year like no other. So please, just sit back and enjoy.
―― TV Series of the Year: KBS "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" ――
From left, main cast of KBS TV series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" Yoo Ah-in, Song Joong-ki, Park Min-yeong and Micky Yoochun. [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
KBS TV series "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" may be "not the most well-made drama but most meaningful drama" (Yoon Hee-seong) of the year,...More

[2010 10Asia's Awards] Writer & Actor of the Year2010/12/31, Source, ────── Writer of the Year: Kim Su-hyun ──────
Writer Kim Su-hyun [10Asia]
It is still Kim Su-hyun. Her SBS TV series "Life is Beautiful" may have seen slightly lower ratings than her previous works and the various controversies surrounding the show for the fact that it dealt with homosexuality, one of the hottest issues of debate in Korean society, may have left little space for it to be evaluated properly. But paradoxically, this showed that Kim, who has been a symbol in Korean TV writing history for over 40 years now, is "proof that she, headed into her seventies, still makes dramas that have an actual impact on reality, are controversial, and are 'real'",...More

[2010 10Asia's Awards] "Thank You" List2010/12/31, Source, There are things that cannot be expressed through annual awards ceremonies. The big trophies are not enough to describe the gratitude we feel for the dramas that contributed to brightening our days during the past year. This is why 10Asia is presenting the "Thank You" list in which we selected 10 memorable dramas. This is a shout-out to all those dramas that at time melted our hearts with highly appealing looks, made our hands and feet cringe yet leave our eyes and mouths smiling with famous lines, delighted us at the mere sight of some characters and left the single viewers green with jealously with the romance scenes. Let us thank all these dramas that took our emotions on a most exciting roller coaster ride. So thank you! Eye-Cleanser of the YearKBS2 TV "Sungkyunkwan Scandal": Jalgeum Quartet
There is a fairy tale in Korea in which a filial daughter volunteers to sacrifice herself to a sea god in order to cure her father of his blindness,...More

Kang Ho-dong scores grand prize at SBS Entertainment Awards 2010/12/31, Source,
Kang Ho-dong [Asia Economic Daily]
Korean entertainer Kang Ho-dong scored the grand prize at the year-end SBS Entertainment Awards, held at SBS' Open Hall on Thursday. Kang was given the top honor for his role as the emcee for popular SBS variety shows "Steel Heart" and "Star King", making it his fifth grand prize win during a year-end show,...More

'Gag Concert' Goes on Provincial Tour2010/12/27, Source, Shim Hyung-rae in the feature "Expert"
The comedy program "Gag Concert" was filmed in Kwangju as a year-end special episode, and produced big laughter in 4,500 audience members.
The gymnasium of Chosun University in Kwangji was filled with more than 4,500 audience members on December 22. Too many audience members came to the gymnasium and some of them even had to stand up behind the audience seating. The filming of the special episode of the KBS 2TV "Gag Concert" had begun with loud applause from the audience at 7:00pm. The program "Gag Concert" had been filmed in KBS hall in Yeouido up until now, and filming in the other location took place after a long interval, since it had last been filmed in Andong in July, 2006,...More

[INTERVIEW] Child actress Kim Yoo-jeong - Part 12010/12/22, Source,
Actress Kim Yoo-jeong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
It has become awkward to call Kim Yoo-jeong a 'child actress'. Other than the fact that she is young, her experience and acting skill she displays on the small and big screen easily surpasses that of adult actors.
In MBC TV series "Dong Yi", she held onto the attention of viewers in the show's early stages playing the young version of Dong Yi (Han Hyo-joo), in KBS drama "Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho" she showed the pitiful state her character is in as the weak one who holds deep sorrow within as well as being the protagonist of the tragic melodrama, and in MBC's "Flame of Desire" she extraordinarily pulled off the double role as the young versions of Na-young (Shin Eun-kyoung) and Hye-jin (Seo Woo) who are venomous to the point they are naughty. Hence Kim could be regarded one of the most impressive actors of the year,...More

SidusHQ to release 2011 love project calendar 2010/12/20, Source,
Image of SidusHQ's "2011 Love Project Hanbok Calendar" [SidusHQ]
Top Korean talenthouse SidusHQ will release a love project calendar featuring all 34 of their stars, according to the agency on Monday.
SidusHQ announced in a press release that the calendar titled "2011 Love Project Hanbok Calendar", including photographs of SidusHQ stars such as Jay Park, Song Joong-ki, Eom Ki-joon and Jang Hyeok dressed in the Korean traditional costume hanbok, will go on sale starting today till the end of January,...More

2010 MelOn Music Awards - About time to come honest2010/12/17, Source, Girls' Generation at the 2010 MelOn Music Awards Ceremony on December 15, 2010. [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
Artists from SM Entertainment were nowhere to be seen at the 2010 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). The same thing could be said of YG Entertainment at this year's Golden Disc Awards Ceremony that came after. But at the MelOn Music Awards held at the Peace Hall of Kyung Hee University on December 15, all three major agencies -- SM, YG and JYP Entertainment (JYPE) -- gathered together, proving the influence the nation's largest online music contents site has over even the 3 largest houses in the music industry.
Unfortunately, the quality of the actual ceremony which went on for three hours and was hosted by actor Song Joong-ki, hardly matched up to the fame of guests who gathered that day,...More

Girls' Generation wins best artist at 2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS2010/12/16, Source,
Winners of the "2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS"
Korean female idols Girls' Generation have claimed the top prize once again at the MelOn MUSIC AWARDS, taking the award for best artist this year as well as winning in three other categories.
At the awards ceremony for the 2010 MelOn MUSIC AWARDS held yesterday at the Grand Peace Palace at Seoul's Kyung Hee University, the nine-member girl group were recognized as best artist of the year, placed among the top 10 singers in the country and took the Hot Trend award,...More

Song Joong-ki, Han Ye-seul cast in new film2010/12/14, Source,
Actor Song Joong-ki (left) and actress Han Ye-seul [Filament Pictures]
Actor Song Joong-ki and actress Han Ye-seul have been cast as the main stars of a new film, according to a press release by distributor Filament Pictures.
In the upcoming movie whose title can be translated into "Although I Was Born", Song will appear as a pathetic college graduate who is dependent on his mom who works in a restaurant and Han a penny pincher who denounces all activities involving spending money including believing in a religion, going to the hospital and dating,...More

JYJ likely to perform at 2010 KBS Drama Awards 2010/12/08, Source,
Korean boy band JYJ [Prain Inc.]
Korean boy band JYJ, composed of former TVXQ members Jaejung (Kim Jae-joong), Micky Yoochun and Junsu, will likely take the stage at the 2010 KBS Drama Awards, making it the first time they will perform on television since debuting as a trio.
"It's not 100% confirmed as of yet but we in currently in talks with JYJ for a congratulatory performance during the 2010 KBS Drama Awards", a high-ranking official from KBS said. "It would be great if they performed the song 'Calling You' from the drama 'Sungkyunkwan Scandal' since Micky Yoochun gave such a memorable performance in the drama",...More

[INTERVIEW] Actress Park Min-yeong - Part 12010/12/01, Source, Park Min-yeong [Lee Jin-hyuk/10Asia]
Actress Park Min-yeong rose to instant stardom through her debut role in MBC smash-hit sitcom "High Kick!" in 2006 by managing to shine amidst the throng of diverse characters with her role as Kang Youmi, an ignorent yet confident and cheerful girl in high school. Yet such fast-obtained popularity rarely lasts for long and the industry does not allow an actress to see slow growth. In KBS drama "I Am Sam" she played a character who holds her emotions within herself while bullied by others rather than immediately respond like Youmi from "High Kick!" would have but viewers remembered her as the same cheerful high school student rather than notice the change between the two and in her acting skills. She then did fairly well in pulling off her role as a princess who depicts on the most tragic narrative through traditional drama "Princess Ja Myung Go" but the low ratings the depressing show scored was applied to Park as well,...More

[Hallyu] Move over girls, the boys are back!2010/11/18, Source,
Singer and actor Kim Hyun-joong
By Han Sang-hee
It seems like only yesterday that young, handsome and talented male singers and actors paved the path for local television programs to debut overseas. The word "hallyu" has become a household term in so many Asian countries, including Japan, China and Thailand, and the torch has been passed to yet another group of talented stars, particularly K-pop girl groups. Just when fans may have thought the pretty girls have captivated Asia, the boys, both old and new, have jumped right back into the picture, but on a more diverse scale.
The females take over...
Currently, girl groups are doing a good job in continuing the hallyu craze. Some local press are even calling it the "second phase of hallyu", and the groups have music chart success, concerts and television shows to prove it,...More

[INTERVIEW] Actor Yoo Ah-in - Part 22010/11/12, Source,
Actor Yoo Ah-in [Chae Ki-won/10Asia]
10: In "Sungkyunkwan Scandal", all four of you were of similar ages. How was that? Yoo Ah-in: I was prejudiced about them. I wasn't able to get close to them in the beginning because of the thought that celebrities will be like this and that and that's why I usually don't become friends with them. (laugh) I understand that they can't help being self-centered, that what they feel is important, and they need to receive more attention. But I rid myself of a lot of them -- through Micky Yoochun, my prejudice of idols and Hallyu stars, through Park Min-yeong my prejudice of fellow actresses, and through Song Joong-ki my prejudice of actors. So in the way that Jae-shin came out of his shell and came to accept Yoon-hee, Seon-joon and Yong-ha, I myself came to see these people in real life in a good way which means I myself matured as well. I had fun shooting the drama. I just wish we had more honest conversations about acting. But what I thank Joong-ki for is that he gave me a lot of advice comfortably. I came to realize that he's not just plain sly, he's sly in the sense that he wants what's best for everyone. 10: Writing is an act which contains your will to express something that you feel inside. You had mainly been writing on your Cyworld account and started writing on Twitter a few months ago. How has that been? Yoo Ah-in: When I'm away from home, I'm in dire need of the time and space that will let me go back to being myself. For three to four months, I felt uncomfortable not being able to live my life as myself. So being able to voice what I think and communicate with people through Twitter as Uhm Hong-shik, as actor Yoo Ah-in, was very comforting. In a way, it's a blessing and honor, and I learned a lot from the thousands of responses I receive from my single comment. Of course, some were just light or routine remarks but quite a lot of the responses awakened me and taught me lessons, as well as reminding me of what a closed person I am. So, I'm going to stay on Twitter. (laugh),...More